The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-12-15
AGRICULTURE AND OUR NONE
TARY SYSTEM.

Recently a meetlnS OF agrlculturlsCS
and the State Grange of S. @. was
held in the city of Columbia. DR.. E.
J. Rembert, of Sumpter county, whose
mother was a native of Wake county,
N. c., delivered a most learned and
interesting address, from which we
extract the following:
But while acknowledgement SCI
ence-comes to help the farmer, Shy
lock stands, as a great Sphinx with
] his Golfers full of filthy lucre, wrung
/ largely from poverty-toil and specu-
lation-carefully guarding the key
that opens the way to its grating
hinges. Fraud-his ever ready help
mate and companion, comes to his aid
full of suggestion and plea. Extortion
is neal at hand to feed and fatten.
Science, with the impress of Genius
stamped upon her gentle face, contem-
plates it's great triumphs and r~ejoices
in the great benefits to humanity that
have and will acrue from their prac-
tical use. But avarice and fraud spoils
it abby closely watching the means
by which the poor farmer can be be-
trayed by high figures and spurious
articles. Science feels conscious that
she has opened the womb of nature,
for the benefit of humanity. But
Shylock, Fraud and Avarice have i'm
paled her with quiet face, but anx
ious air-she surveys the situation.
She finds the toilers in chains, and law
is siding with the great combinations
strong in their might and fearless
in their Observation-Disclosures with
anguish and the marvellous conditions
surrounding her. She calls for coun-
sci with her family-for she is not
alone. 1t is not the counsel of the
Gods upon Mount Olympus, but a con-
cert of action among the great prin-
ciples or forces of nature. First she
summons her twin sister-the science
of medicine. She comes bearing in
jewelled chalice, all the gifts attained
of nature, to ease the pains and pangs
of the world-but unfortunately,
trailing behind her graceful garments,
there moves with stealthy tread, the
charlatan-throwing a spray of poison
ONtI 11cI IluulllCOIG C1dElUlcS.
Then enters mechanism, or the
science Of appliance-whose genius
sides over the adapting and fitting of
the forces of nature to matter-for-
tunately 10 attribute Of antiquity, or
of the dark ages encumbers her pro-
gress.
Next in order, an appeal is made to
the science of Law-the science of
Jurisprudence, of Ethics, Of Justice.
He appears in stately robes, such as
would have honored the forms of
Jupiter and Apollo. But he is at
tended by an army of followers, as
opponents of its great principles
Camelions, legal quacks, strategists,
tatooed with bubbles, exceptions, in
trigue, %chicanery, indictments to strife,
and barristry-each bearing on the
n side a package of briefs-on the
other a pouch for their golden gains.
Lastly, but a more commanding figure
than all this noble group, comes the
science of government, with form
erect and features firm as adamant-
but his advance is impeded by rings
and thorny combinations and intricate
l~abyrinths.
Agriculture, before the assembled
council, puts in her plea for Justice
and right-but to reach this Temple,
her way is studded with difficulties,
and thorny encumberances. The
weight is so onerous that each giant
principle is ilnpaled by its surround
ings. But they survey the ages of
the past, and visit the homes of their
respective births-take courage, as
Paul did, and go on-and as they look
down the ages to come, they are as
sured that their triumph will yet be
complete.
Now, [ wish to be distinctly under
stood before bringing into practical
application the above figures, that it is
not my intention to assail any of the
existing conditions or institutions in
our State, nor any officer in public
station or trust, but rather, to assault,
scalpel in hand, the ulcers cropping
out Of society-to note these wants in
our system and those Improvements
that would tend to the prosperity of
our people.
After the wal the situation of our
people was abnormal and peculiar
coming out of it lin sackcloth and
ashes they had to rebuild their
wrecks as best they could-with a